Street-cleaning machine.



J. E. BRIGGS. STREET CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 1908.

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J. E. BRIGGS.

STREET CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 190B.

Patented July 6, 1909.

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PATENT JAMES 1*]. BRIGGS, O1 \VATERLOO, IOWA.

STREET-CLEANING MACHINE Application filed January 29,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jimins E. Bnrccs, a citizen of the United States of i rmerica, and a resident of -Waterloo, Blackhawk county, Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Street-Cleaning Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in street-cleaning machines, and the object of my improvement is to provide a combined machine for sprinkling, then sweeping the litter on the street into a receptacle, said receptacle being furnished with suitable inclosed mechanism for evacuating the contents at one side of themachine.

A further object is to so construct the sweeping mechanism, that it will operate to sweep the street clean to the curb line.

These objects I have accomplished by the mechanism which is hereinafter described and claimed, and which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an upper plan view of my said improved street-cleaning machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, and Fig. 3 is a detail view on a larger scale of the sprinkler-wdve and the means for operating it. Fig. 4L is an enlarged perspective broken detail of the sectional receptacle.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The frame of my machine consists of a built-up and rigid structure, composed of horizontal rectangular parts 67 and 69, spaced apart vertically by connecting uprights, with bracketed portions on both sides, the righthand one adapted to support the extended operating parts of the mechanism on the same side. The pole 39 is secured to the front transverse bars of the machine, while the forward part of such frame has bearings for the ends of a rotatable transverse aXle 1, to which the carrying-wheels 2 are secured to rotate therewith. The rear part of the frame is carried on two casters 45, the pintles of each caster being rotatably mounted in hearings in the rear parts of brackets, the latter extending from vertical spindles 44 which are rotatable m bearings supported by the rear transverse bars of the frame. The casters permit the machine to take a short turn when desired.

The sprinkling apparatus is supported at the front of the machine, and the tank 29 is thus borne over the front carrymg-wheels to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1909.

1908. Serial No. 413,283.

add to the tractive effort of their tread. Conduits 50 lead from the tank to valves in communication, on each side, with the risers 66 which in turn open into the transverse sprinkling pipe 36 which has a series of orifices on its under side. The valve-chambers 30 each contain a seat 50, contacted by a valve G l, the latter connected to a verticallymovable stem 59, such stem outside of the chamber having a pivotal connection 63 with the lower member of a bell-crank lever 5/. The lever 57 has a fulcrum 62 on a supporting bracket 58, and the upper arm of said levor has a pivotal connection 60 to the outer end of one of the links 11, and the inner end of each link 11 has a pivotal connection 1 to the lower end of a hand-lever The handlever 3 f has a fulcrum (55 on the tank 29, and may be shifted by the driver to open or close the valve-chambers 30 as desired.

The cylindrical broom 15 is secured to a transverse shaft t0, the ends of the latter being mounted in bearings in the rear ends of the arms 9 whose other ends are pivoted to a transverse rotatable shaft 21 supported by the said frame. This broom is driven with a positive rearward rotation by means of the following mechanism: Sprocket wheels 12 and 5 are secured to the shafts 10 and 21 respectively on their left-hand ends, and a sprocket-chain 68 connects them. On the right-hand end of the shaft 21 is secured a sprocket-wheel 25 engaged by a sprocketchain 26. The forward part of the chain 26 is passed about an idler 27 rotatably mounted. on a pin extending laterally from the forward end of an arm L2, the rear end of the latter being pivoted to a pin 53 extending from the upper part of an upright 7 on the frame (39. Another idler S is mounted on the same pin 53 as the rear end of the arm 42, and serves to direct the chain 26. The lower strand of aid chain operatively engages the teeth of the driving-srnocket wheel which is secured to the driving-axle l. The chain 26 is removed from operative engagement with said sprocket-wheel 40 by the shifting of a hand-lever 33 in one direction. This lever medially pivoted on an upright 35 of said frame, and has a pawl. adapted to ride over and engage the teeth of a rack-bar 17. An arm 31 is pivoted to the upright 7 and a connecting-rod 32 is pivotally connected between the arm 31 and said handlever, the pivotal connection with the latter being by Cir means of a pin movable in an elongated slot 51 in said rod, whereby wear in the connect ing parts of the machine is compensated for. A linl-i 52 connects the arms 31 and 12, whereby, when the lever 33 is shifter. 11 one di .e tion, the arln 42 with the chain 26 is lifted, removing latter from operative engagement with the driving-sprocket wheel.

The lower end of the lever 33 is eX edownward beyond. its connection with rod 32, and to the end of the extension is attached the forward end of a chain or cable 2%. The latter is then brought rearwardly to pass over an idler 23 to connect wi h he end of an arm 22 projecting from the transverse rock-shaft 14 in the end of the frame. T his rockshaft has forwardly bent arms whose ends are pivoted to the ends of links 13. A plurality of bearing perforations are alined in the said links by which an adjustabl connection is afforded with each end of the rockshaft. The forward or lower ends of the said links are pivoted to the rear ends of the 9. i f hen the lever is shifted in one direction, by means of the said intermediate connoctions the broom may be elevated.

Closely anterior to and arranged in parallel with said broom is a rearwardly opening litter receptacle whose forward knuckle 71 is pivoted on transverse support 5% in said frame. The forward part of the receptacle is constructed of a single curved piece which, when elevated, lies near but not touching the transverse rotatable Archimedean screw 16. This screw is mounted on a shaft 3 rotatable in said frame. By rivets 73 passed through registering orifices 72 a plurality of thin elastic and yieldable slats 55 are secured to said receptacle and to a plurality of parallel bars Q6. The are arranged to overlap each other and said receptacle, so that when the slats 55 are bent into a curve the bars will have a slight rela tive movement to permit them to conform to such curve. The receptacle, including all these parts is free to bent and swung upwardly, the swinging taking place at the knuckle 71. To rings on the rear ends of the strips 55 are secured the rear ends of chains or cables 17, the forward ends of which are connected to and adapted to be rolled upon the sleeve 18. The sleeve 18 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 521, and bears a spool 19 to which is attached the rear end of another and single cable 20 to wind thereon, the forward end of the latter cable being connected to the lower end of a vertical shaft 48, turned y means of a crank 37, to wind thereon. when the chain 20 is wound about the shaft e8, it is unwound from the sppol 19, which in turning winds up the caoles 17, and elevates the sections of the receptacle to a position where they almost contact with the screw 16, while the receptacle itself is thus raised a suflicient distance above the street to dump with effect, in piles. The screw 16 in rotating, carries the litter i:. said receptacle out of the open side thereof, and can be started to rotate by the following described means. A sprocketwheel 4 is secured to the left-h and end of the shaft 3, and chain 6 passed about it and about an idler27 pivoted to an arm 12 on the left side of the machine. A hand-lever 43 on the same side of the machine is connected with the arm 42 by the same kind of connections as are shown on the other side as being connector between the lever 33 and the arm 42. When the lever 43 is shifted in one direction, the chain 6 is lowered into operative engagement with the driving-sprocket wheel ll) on that end of the axle 1, which causes the screw 16 to be rotated until stopped by the lifting of the sprocket chain.

It will be observed, on referring to Fi 1, that both the rotatable broom 15 and the re ceptacle are extended at one side of the machine far enough to sweep and receive the litter on the street approximately to the outer line of the tread of the carrying-wheels, WJlCll arrangement permits of the street being swept clear to the curb line. The extension may be on either or on both sides of the machine, as desired, the same principle of invention being involved.

l-laving described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. in a street-cleaning machine, in com-- bination, a frame mounted on transporting means, a horizontal verticallyadjustable rearwardly-rotatable broom, and a rear wardly opening closed front trough mounted anterior to said broom and adapted to receive t 1e sweepings therefrom and deliver them at one side of the machine, the said broom being adapted to sweep to approximately the outer line of the tread of said machine on the same side, said trough being adapted to be raised a distance above the street, by swinging it upwardly, before discharging its contents to prevent clogging of its discharge opening.

2. In street-cleaning machine, in combination, a frame mounted on transporting means, a rotatable broom, said broom being adapted to sweep to approximately the outer line of the tread of the machine on one side, a rearwardly opening closed front trough mounted anterior to said broom and composed of relatively movable transverse parallel sections, and means for swinging said movable sections to elevate said receptacle and close its open rear end.

3. In a street-cleaning machine, in combination, frame mounted on transporting means, a rotatable broom, a rearwardly opening closed front trough mounted anterior to said broom, said receptacle being composed of a plurality of relatively-movable transverse slats, and means within said receptacle for engaging the sweepings therein and carrying them out at one end thereof.

l. In a street-cleaning machine, in combination, a frame mounted on transporting means, a rotatable broom, a rearwzn'dly opening closed front trough mounted anterior to said broom and supported by said frame, said receptacle being composed of relatively movable sections adapted to be swung vertically, and means within said receptacle for engaging the sweepings therein when desired and carrying them out at one end thereof.

5. In a street-cleaning machine, in combination, a frame mounted on transportingwhcels, a rotatable broom adapted to sweep to approximately the outer line of the tread of said transporting-wheels, a closed front trough supported by said frame and mounted anterior to said broom and adapted to receive the sweepings therefrom, said rccep tacle being composed of a plurality of relatively movable sections, means for swinging said sections vertically, and means within said receptacle for engaging the sweepings therein when desired and carrying them out at one end thereof.

6. In a street-cleaning machine, in combination, a frame mounted for transportation, a rotatable broom, a vertically movable contractile receptacle mounted anterior to said broom, both said broom and said receptacle being supported by said frame, means for swinging said receptacle upwardly and an Archimedean screw in said receptacle adapted to engage the sweepings therein as desired and carry them out of one end thereof, and means for independently positively rotating said screw.

7. In a street cleaning machine, in combination, a frame mounted on a rotatable axle at one end, having carrying-wheels secured thereto, a driving-sprocket wheel secured to said rotatable axle, a rotatable shaft mounted in said frame, a driven-sprocket wheel secured to said rotatable shaft, a vertically-movable broom supported by said frame, an arm pivoted to said frame having an idler-wheel rotatably mounted thereon, a hand-lever pivoted to "aid frame, connections between said. handlever and said pivoted arm, sprocket-chain about said drivensprocket wheel and said idler wheel and adapted to be moved into or out of operative engagement with said driving-sprocket wheel by means of said hand-lever, pivoted arm and their connections, sprocket-wheels secured to saic rotatable shaft and to the shaft of said broom, a sprocket-chain about said sprocket-wheels, and connecting means between said broom and said hand-lever, whereby said broom may be vertically adjusted away from the surface of the street by the action of the hand-lever.

l l r l l 8. In a street-cleaning machine, in combination, a frame mounted for trimsportation, a rotatable shaft in said frame, a driving-smochet wheel secured to said rotatable shaft, another rotatable shaft mounted in said frame, a driven-sprocket wheel secured to said second shaft, a vertically movable broom supported by said frame, an arm pivoted to said frame having an idler-wheel rotatably mounted thereon, a hand-lever pivotcd to said frame, connections between said hand-lever and said pivoted arm, a sprocketchain about said drivcn-sprocltct wheel and said idler-wheel and adapted to be moved into or out of operative engagement with said driving-sprocket wheel by means of said hand-lever, pivoted arm and their connections, sprocket-wheels secured to aid second shaft and to the broom-shaft, a sprocket chain movable about said sprocket-wheels, and connecting means between said handlever and said broom adapted to elevate said broom away from the street surface when said hand-lever is shifted in one direction.

9. In a street-cleaning machine, in combination, a frame mounted for transportation, a rotatable broom supported by said frame, a vcrtically-swinging receptacle sup ported anterior to said broom and adapted to receive the swcepings therefrom, a rotatable shaft in said frame parallel to said receptacle, a pulley fixed on said shaft, a rotatable spindle in said frame, a cable connected between said pulley and said spindle, and cables connected between said rotatable shaft and the rear part of said receptacle adapted to tilt the open receiving-end thereof upwardly to prevent escape of its contents at that end.

10. In a street cleaning machine, in combination, a frame mounted for transportation, a rotatable broom operatively mounted therein, a receptacle supported by said frame in advance of said sweeping means, closed to the front and open toward the rear when lowered, said receptacle being composed of a contractile sectional trough, irneans for swinging said trough upwardly and means in said receptacle adapted to deliver its contents at one side of the machine when the latter is elevated.

11. In a street cleaning machine, in combination, a frame mounted for transportation, a rotatable broom operativcly mount ed therein, a receptacle hinged to said frame and depending therefrom in front of such sweeping-means and open at the rear to receive sweepings from said means and closed at the front to prevent escape of said contents, said receptacle being composed of transverse parallel sections, elastic strips connected to all the sections, and operative means connected to the rear edge of said receptacle and adapted to raise and lower it,

by means of swinging upward the movable I sections. I 12. In a street cleaning machine, in oon1- bination, a frame mounted for transportal tion, a rotatable broom operatively 1nountl ed therein, a receptacle hin ed to said frame l in front of said sweeping-means, open at the l rear but closed at the front, said receptacle being composed of relatively-inovable transverse parallel sections, resilient plates eonnectin said sections, means connected to the rearinost part of said receptacle and adapted to simultaneously raise said sections by s *ing'ing thein upward, and a rotatable Archimedes-tn screw located and mount- JAMES E. BRIGGS.

Witnesses G. G. KENNEDY, O. D. YOUNG. 

